London: London Eye, River Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

The best thing about this package is its three-way view of London: open-top bus, River Thames, and the London Eye high above Westminster. In one or two days, you can see Big Ben from the road, Tower Bridge from the water, and the Houses of Parliament from the wheel.

I like the freedom to hop off at Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, or the Tower of London, then rejoin the route without buying another ticket. I also like the easy mix of sights: the Thames cruise is a restful break from traffic, while the Eye gives you the city from a completely different angle. The catch is London traffic. A bus trip that looks short on the map can crawl, especially late in the day.

Key points at a glance

• Three views of London: See the city from an open-top double-decker, the Thames, and the London Eye.
• A useful first-visit route: Stops cover Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, and more.
• Book the Eye early: You must reserve a London Eye time slot after booking, and morning or twilight times can make the day easier.
• The 48-hour pass gives you breathing room: It also includes three guided walks, including Royal, Jack the Ripper, and Harry Potter themes.
• Traffic shapes the day: Use the bus for sightseeing and orientation, but do not treat it as London’s fastest transport.
• The app matters: Live bus tracking and stop information make the hop-on, hop-off system much less confusing.

Why this London package works so well

At $74 per person, this is not simply a bus ticket. You receive a 24-hour or 48-hour Big Bus pass, entry to the London Eye, and a one-way Thames cruise. The 48-hour version also includes three guided walking tours.

The value depends on how much you use it. If you ride one short bus loop, take the Eye, and skip the cruise, you are not getting the full benefit. If you use the bus to connect several major sights, take the river boat, and fit in the Eye, the price becomes easier to justify.

I see this as an orientation package more than a replacement for London’s Underground. The bus lets you look around while moving between sights. The tradeoff is speed. The Tube is usually better for crossing town quickly, while the Big Bus is better when you want to see what lies between stops.

The ticket lasts for 24 or 48 hours once activated. One useful detail is that the 48-hour period starts when you first board, not simply when you make the booking. That gives you flexibility if you arrive in London early but want to begin sightseeing later.

Start at the London Eye or another central stop

You can begin at any Big Bus stop, but the London Eye stop on Westminster Bridge Road is a practical starting point. It is next to the Lion Statue, outside the London Marriott County Hall, and puts you near the Eye, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.

Other common starting points include Marble Arch, Victoria Station, and Trafalgar Square. You can also use the Big Bus app to add your booking and activate the ticket when you are ready. If you prefer not to use the app, show the printed or mobile voucher to a Big Bus team member or driver.

Look carefully for the Big Bus vehicles and stop signs. London has several sightseeing bus companies, and it can be confusing at first. Staff are positioned at many stops and can point you in the right direction, but having the app open saves time.

The buses provide free Wi-Fi and complimentary headphones. The recorded commentary comes in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. It gives useful background as you pass the sights, though some listeners may find the banter a bit repetitive on a second circuit.

The bus routes cover the famous London postcard views

The three routes take you past the central sights most first-time visitors want to see. You can stay on for a full circuit to get your bearings, then repeat sections and hop off where something catches your eye.

Westminster is the essential first stretch. You pass the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, and 10 Downing Street. From the upper deck, you get clear views for photographs when the weather cooperates. Rain does not end the experience, but you will want a coat and a seat under cover.

Buckingham Palace and Green Park make a natural stop. You can use the bus to reach the palace area, then explore on foot before continuing. The route also passes Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Mayfair, and Hyde Park Corner, giving you a quick look at London’s shopping streets and ceremonial center.

The route toward the City brings you to the Bank of England, Monument, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, City Hall, and The Shard. This is one of the most rewarding sections for sightseeing, but it is also an area where traffic can slow the bus badly.

Near the Tower of London, the cruise connection is especially handy. You can hop off, see the fortress area, then walk to Tower Pier for the boat to Westminster. The river gives you an excellent view of Tower Bridge without the need to find a separate viewpoint.

Other stops include Covent Garden, the British Museum, Marble Arch, Harrods, South Kensington’s museums, Kensington Palace, and Notting Hill. The bus will not replace time inside those attractions, but it can help you decide which neighborhoods deserve a closer look.

Use the bus for views, not speed

The open upper deck is the reason to ride this bus instead of taking an ordinary city route. You see the streets, rooftops, monuments, and changing neighborhoods as you move between major stops. The audio narration adds context without requiring you to hold a guidebook.

The practical problem is road traffic. A full loop can take a long time, and certain streets may slow to a crawl. Delays have also occurred around parades, demonstrations, public celebrations, and other diversions. A route that looks simple on the map may require a long walk if a stop closes or a bus is diverted.

I would use the bus in two ways. First, take a circuit early in your visit to understand the shape of central London. Second, hop off for one or two carefully chosen stops rather than trying to cover every attraction in a single day.

The app shows bus locations and estimated arrival times. It is one of the most useful parts of the package, especially when you are deciding if it is worth waiting or walking to another stop. Still, allow extra time. Late afternoon waits have sometimes been long near the Tower of London and other busy locations.

The London Eye is the visual centerpiece

The London Eye is a single rotation in a large enclosed glass capsule. From the top, you look across the Thames toward Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the wider London skyline. The ride gives you a clear sense of how the central city fits together.

You must reserve a time slot after booking. The confirmation includes instructions and a link to the Big Bus Manage My Booking portal. Do this early, especially if you want a particular time of day.

Morning is a smart choice when you want to reduce the risk of losing time in a long queue. Another appealing option is late afternoon, when you may see daylight on the way up and London beginning to glow as the capsule turns. The Eye can be busy even with a reservation, so arriving early is sensible.

The standard admission included here is enough for the main experience, but it does not give you unlimited time at the top. The capsule completes one rotation, which is sufficient for photographs and a broad view of the city. On a clear day, the Eye is the strongest part of the package for seeing London from above.

Take the Thames cruise between Westminster and Tower Pier

The one-way cruise runs between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, in either direction, and takes about 40 minutes. Departures are scheduled roughly every 15 to 40 minutes in summer and every 30 to 40 minutes in winter.

This is more than a transport link. From the river, you get a different view of Parliament, the bridges, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. It also gives your feet a break after walking through Westminster or the City.

The live commentary adds personality. Bill and Pasquale have been singled out for entertaining and informative narration, while Dave has been praised for making the ride fun. Commentary quality can vary by departure, but the live format feels more connected to the sights than a fixed recording.

Board at Westminster Pier or Tower Pier by showing your digital or printed City Cruises ticket to staff. Download the City Cruises ticket after booking. If you plan to use the cruise as the link between the London Eye and Tower of London, check the pier location and allow time to walk from the bus stop.

The boat is not a substitute for a longer Thames excursion. It is a practical, scenic connection with commentary. Engine smells may bother some passengers, and service can occasionally be cancelled, so avoid building your entire day around the last possible departure.

The 48-hour pass adds three walking tours

The 48-hour ticket includes three guided walks. They give you a closer look at parts of London that pass quickly from the upper deck.

The Royal Walk begins at Stop 8 at 10:00. It is the natural choice if Buckingham Palace, royal ceremonies, and central London landmarks are high on your list.

The Jack the Ripper walk begins at Stop 19 at 13:00. It focuses on the East End and its darker Victorian stories. Check the start point carefully because the walk is not simply a continuation of the main sightseeing loop.

The Harry Potter walk begins at Stop 21 at 16:00. It is a good option for families and fans who want to connect London streets with the books and films. The walk led by Lea has been especially well received for making the subject accessible to children.

These walks create a strong reason to choose 48 hours if your schedule allows. They also force you to slow down and explore on foot, which is often when London becomes more than a series of famous views.

A practical one-day plan

For a single day, start with the London Eye in the morning. A timed entry removes one major uncertainty from the schedule, and an early ride leaves the rest of the day open.

After the Eye, walk across Westminster Bridge or board the bus near the London Eye stop. See Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament, and Whitehall from the route, then continue toward Buckingham Palace or Trafalgar Square.

Around midday, use the bus to reach the Tower of London area. Traffic may make this slow, so do not book a tight timed attraction immediately afterward. Walk to Tower Pier and take the cruise back toward Westminster.

If you still have energy, finish with Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, or a short evening bus circuit. This plan covers air, land, and water without trying to enter every major attraction.

A better two-day plan

The 48-hour option lets you separate sightseeing from transport. On the first day, take a full bus circuit and note the places you want to revisit. Hop off at Westminster, Buckingham Palace, or St Paul’s Cathedral, but leave time for the Thames cruise.

On the second day, use the route as a connector between neighborhoods. You might spend the morning around the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, then head toward Kensington Palace, South Kensington museums, or Notting Hill. Add one guided walk if its time fits your plans.

Two days also make the ticket less vulnerable to traffic delays. If a demonstration or parade disrupts one route, you have another day to try again. You can also ride a section twice, once for the commentary and once for views and photographs.

Who gets the most value from this ticket

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors, families, and anyone with only one or two days in London. It gives you a simple framework for a huge city and reduces the need to plan every connection from scratch.

It is also useful for visitors who want a gentle pace. You can sit on the bus between stops instead of walking long distances, and the river boat provides a calm break. Wheelchair users can use the buses, which have ramps, and infants under two travel free.

You may prefer ordinary public transport if your main goal is speed or if you already know London well. The bus can be frustrating when traffic stops it, and the routes finish earlier than some evening plans require. You also do not receive hotel pickup or drop-off, so you must reach a stop independently.

Booking tips that save time

Reserve the London Eye immediately after booking the package. The bus ticket can be activated at any stop, but the Eye requires a separate timed reservation.

Download both the Big Bus app and the City Cruises ticket. The Big Bus app helps with route maps, stop locations, and live bus tracking. The cruise ticket is what you show at Westminster or Tower Pier.

For the best upper-deck views, carry a coat even on a bright day. Bring your own headphones if the supplied ones do not fit comfortably, especially for children.

Build in spare time around major attractions. Traffic, street closures, celebrations, protests, and weather can alter the pace. A flexible plan will serve you much better than a tightly packed list of timed stops.

Should you book this London experience?

Book it if you want a broad first look at London and value variety over speed. The combination of the London Eye, Thames cruise, and open-top bus gives you three genuinely different ways to see the city, and the 48-hour option adds useful walking tours.

Choose the 24-hour ticket for a focused day built around the Eye and cruise. Choose 48 hours if you want to revisit routes, take a guided walk, and leave room for traffic delays. Skip it if you already know London well and plan to move quickly between individual attractions by Tube.

For most first visits, the $74 price is fair when you use all three main parts. Reserve the Eye early, track the buses, and treat the ride as sightseeing rather than express transport. That approach turns a potentially slow bus day into a practical introduction to London.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

You can choose a 24-hour or 48-hour Big Bus ticket. The period begins when you first activate the bus pass.

Is the London Eye included?

Yes. Entry to the London Eye is included, but you must reserve a time slot after booking.

Does the ticket include a Thames River cruise?

Yes. You receive one one-way cruise between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier, in either direction.

How long does the Thames cruise take?

The cruise takes about 40 minutes.

Where can I board the river cruise?

You can board at Westminster Pier or Tower Pier after showing your digital or printed City Cruises ticket.

Are guided walking tours included?

They are included with the 48-hour ticket only. The options are the Royal Walk, Jack the Ripper walk, and Harry Potter walk.

What languages are available for the bus commentary?

Audio commentary is available in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Can wheelchair users join the tour?

Yes. The buses have ramps for wheelchair users.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to a Big Bus stop, the London Eye, or the river pier.